Strange day on the old golf links. It played as a Tale of Two 4 1/2’s”. Holes 1-4 played through rain, thunder (but no lightning), wind, and around the perimeter of the course. Holes 5-9…

the rain stopped and the sun came out, the humidity rose, the routing move to the interior of the course, the shooting started (or maybe it was fireworks), the sirens blared (maybe it was gun shots)…play on!

Hole #1 is a straight (remember this word), 282 yard par 4 (white tees). The only issue is the railroad track that follows you down the left side. If you play 9-holes the front nine plays from the whites; if you play the “back” nine, you play from the blue tees. Nice easy hole to ease you into your round. Hole #2 is one of the few dogleg holes on the course. Evil pin placement today if you are coming from the right like me. Over tree, over bunker – bogey result.

You complete the journey around the perimeter of the course with a very straight par 4 (Hole #3) and a similar par 5 (Hole #4). Both have small bunkers to the front, right of the greens. The rain started to abate as I entered the routing through the center of the course. Holes #5 and #6 are – wait for it – straight par 4s of 425 and 385 yards respectively.

Hole #4 – Par5, 488 yards. The rain is all around me.

To be honest, the course has been a little boring so far…too many straight, hazard-free holes. At Hole #7 things changed – the sun emerged; the hole had an ever-so slight bend to the left; the shooting (or fireworks) started; but it still had the required small bunker to the right, front of the green (some things never change).

Hole #8 is a straight 305 yard par 4 but has two bunkers by the green. Hole #9 is the first and only par 3 on the course and if the pin is placed behind the one big bunker, it can be a tough finishing hole.

Par: Yes, I said this course is boring but if you like a straight, easy course, this one will be great for you. That being said, the course was in excellent shape. A big “thank you” to the grounds crew – awesome job! It’s a par 36 but has only one par 3 and one par 5. If you play 18 holes the white/blue configuration only changes the distance of the hole, not the design. It was a good value – $18/with cart and the round took only 90 minutes to complete.

Looking to play another 9-hole round? My suggestion is to move a few miles down the road to the town of Mitchell and Scenic Knolls Golf Course.

Scotts Bluff National Monument

After your round if you still have a few hours to kill, visit and take a hike at Scotts Bluff National Monument in Gering. There is a lot of early pioneer history in the panhandle section of Nebraska – enjoy!